Chapter 15: Dad Bai Lie (4)

Chapter 15: Dad Bai Lie (4)

“Is this for me?”

It felt like the last time she had seen such normal food was in her previous life. Shuyue tried to keep her small face taut, putting on a reserved expression, but only she knew how much her mouth was watering.

“Yeah, eat up quickly. It’s still warm; it tastes best while it’s hot!”

Bai Lie fished out a crumpled five-mao banknote, smoothed it out, and tucked it into Shuyue’s little pocket. “Keep this on you as pocket money.”

Bai Lie wanted to give her more right now, but he was helplessly strapped for cash. He leaned back, resting his head on his hands, a smile playing on his lips.

“The nearest supply and marketing cooperative is in the next village. Even though our village doesn’t have one, you still need to keep some money in your pocket—you never know when you might need it!

I used to live by myself, and I could never hold onto money.

From now on, our family’s money will be managed by you, my daughter. Save it quietly and don’t let your grandma and the others know. When the time comes, you can buy whatever you want to eat, wear, use, or play with. Spend it however you like.

The weather is getting colder now; we need to make a new cotton-padded jacket for little Shuyue…”

Bai Lie rambled on, his clear voice slow and steady, gradually growing lower and lower.

Shuyue lowered her eyes to look at the half-catty rice cake in her hands, but her peripheral vision fell on the young man’s trousers. There were two layers of patches on the knees, the cuffs were frayed and fuzzy, and his socks had holes where his big toes poked through…

Shuyue’s long, soft eyelashes trembled. She took a slow bite of the rice cake, chewing earnestly, savoring the taste bit by bit.

It was clearly a sweet flavor, yet she felt a touch of bitterness in her heart.

By now, Bai Lie had already fallen into a deep sleep. His cold, sharp features regained a bit of their usual aloofness. There were dark circles under his eyes and stubble on his chin. He had fallen asleep while talking to her—he was clearly exhausted.

This was her dad!

This man, as a father, even while he himself was starving and freezing, was willing to save duck eggs for her to eat, brought her rice cakes, started a little "treasury" for her with the money he earned, promised to dry sweet potatoes for her, wanted to make her a new cotton jacket, and even said she wouldn't have to drink thin gruel anymore…

All of this was enough to settle Shuyue’s heart, which had been drifting and unsettled ever since she transmigrated. She carefully took off Bai Lie’s straw sandals and covered him with the quilt.

Then, she slowly climbed off the kang, picked up her aluminum water bottle and the enamel tea mug, and headed toward the kitchen.

Because they were worried about rain, the village was rushing to harvest through the night. Uncle Bai, Aunt Bai, and Grandpa Bai were all still out in the fields, leaving only the old lady and a few grandchildren at home.

Shuyue thought the kitchen was empty, but she didn't expect the door to be closed. Through the cracks in the wooden door, she could see the glow of a fire inside. She pushed it, but it wouldn't budge. She knocked, and there was movement from within.

“What’s the rush? Are you in a hurry to be reincarnated? It’ll be ready in a minute.”

It was the old lady’s voice.

Shuyue was stunned.

She wasn't used to this sudden, rough style from her usually gentle grandma.

Shuyue puffed out her cheeks and knocked again. The old lady was grumbling, but the kitchen door opened.

The air suddenly went deathly quiet.

Seeing it was Shuyue, the old lady swallowed the rest of the scolding she had been directing at someone else. After a moment, her expression softened.

“Oh, it’s Yue-ya!

Why are you running out here in the middle of the night?

It’s so dangerous!

Don’t go tripping.

It’s pitch black out here; if you were to fall and hurt that pretty little face of yours, you’d be disfigured.

When your dad gets back, he’d be furious with me.

Come on, Grandma will take you back…

Don’t be scared, okay? Grandma was just scolding those two troublesome brothers of yours. Grandma is usually very, very gentle.”